NPR

Finding A Legal Loophole, Memphis Takes Down Its Confederate Statues

To skirt a state law prohibiting the monuments' removal, the city sold two of its parks to a new nonprofit. "In all of my life in Memphis, I've never seen such solidarity," said Mayor Jim Strickland.

It was a long time in the making, but when the statues of Confederate figures finally came down in Memphis, Tenn., it was quick work.

Yesterday, the city sold two of its city parks – one with a statue of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, the other featuring a statue of Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest on horseback — for $1,000 each.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Apple Shows Its Steepest Quarterly Decline In IPhone Sales Since Pandemic's Outset
The 10% drop in year-over-year iPhone sales for the January-March period is latest sign of weakness in a product that generates most of Apple's revenue.
NPR4 min read
Cicadas Are Back On The Menu. One Chef Shares His Dish Ideas — And An Easy Recipe
The cicadas are coming! And so are some new flavor profiles. This spring, the bugs of two broods, the 13-year Brood XIX and the 17-year Brood XIII, will crawl from the ground simultaneously across the eastern and southern parts of the United States.
NPR5 min read
Can You Survive Summer Indoors Without AC? In Arizona, Many Don’t
Nearly half of the people who suffered heat-related deaths in Arizona last year lived outdoors without shelter, but public health officials and lawmakers are starting to pay more attention to the risk of dying indoors.

Related Books & Audiobooks